Disaster alert!
December 24, 2007, Sandeep Sharma, Dataquest
This article discusses the vital role played by ICTs in preventing disasters like the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004. It takes a close look at the Indian National Early Warning System (NEWS) and the Sri Lankan Last Mile Warning System, both put in place in the aftermath of the Tsunami. While appreciating the huge impact these technologies will have in signalling warning and saving life and resources in the event of a disaster, the author calls for creating better awareness about these among the local-level administrators as well as those people who live in remote areas with little or no access to ICTs.